August's 06 Xterra Build

August

Observer
OWNER: August
LOCATION: North Vancouver, British Columbia

YEAR: 2006
MAKE: Nissan
MODEL: Xterra Off Road

DRIVETRAIN:
ENGINE: 4.0L V6
TRANSMISSION: 5-Speed Automatic

SUSPENSION:
FRONT: PRG 2" Spacers
REAR: PRG Adjustable Shackles and Bilstein 5125 Shocks
TIRES: BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 LT255/85R16 Tires [NEW]
WHEELS: Stock 6-Spoke Off Road Package
BRAKES: Stock

ELECTRICAL:
ScanGauge II
Stock Rockford Fosgate Stereo
Pac-Audio AAI-NIS2 Auxiliary Audio Input Adapter
Icom IC-2720H Dual Band (UHF/VHF) Mobile Radio
Larsen NMO2/70 Fender Mount Antenna
Garmin nüvi 760 with Nissan Mount
Globalstar SPOT Messenger with Ram Mount
Nissan Keyless Entry Keypad
Blue Sea Systems ST Blade 6 Fuse Block
Globalstar GCK1400 Car Kit for GSP1600 Satellite Telephone
300 Watt Inverter
SNM Pro Series 606 Strobe Power Supply [NEW]
SNM Strobes in Taillights [NEW]

RECOVERY:
Receiver Hitch Shackle Mount
Recovery Straps, Shackles, Come-Along, etc

OTHER:
Valley Industries Trailer Hitch
Yakima SkyBox Roof Pod
Sleeping and Cargo Platform

CURRENT PROJECT(S)
OTRATTW Switches and Hella Relays
Relocate VCD and Diff-Lock Switches
Xoskel Bumper Mouth Bracket with
PIAA 1500XT Driving Lights and
Nova E42 LED Strobe Head

2009 TO DO:
Rock Lights and Back Up Lights
Shrockworks Rock Sliders
Hi Lift Jack

Future:
Shrockworks Front Bumper with Winch
Shrockworks Rear Bumper with Tire Carrier
Shrockworks Skid Plates

USAGE:
This will be a daily driver (20 km commute each way), weekender (surfing, biking, camping, towing my 12 foot tin boat), expedition vehicle (longer multi week road trips) and recovery vehicle (support in pro rally circuit).

HISTORY:
I bought this US-model Xterra at a Canadian Nissan dealership in March 2008 and so far I've put 22,000 km on it in 6 months. I'm very happy with it and I'm excited about its potential as a reliable expedition vehicle.

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Second weekend after purchasing... already scratched head to toe by sage brush

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Car 98 (sweep vehicle) in the Mountain Trials Rally in Merritt, BC

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Surf trip to Oregon Coast

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6800 km road trip around British Columbia

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New KM2s

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New KM2s
 
Last edited:

August

Observer
CoastalDefender said:
Next time you come to Ore, let me know. We can hook up and hit a few of the logging roads along the way. :)
Thanks! That would be awesome. When I was there last month I had no idea where the trails were or the free places to camp.
 
August said:
Thanks! That would be awesome. When I was there last month I had no idea where the trails were or the free places to camp.

Free places to camp? Bro, if you ever come to Westport, WA, you have a free place to stay at mine. (and you /should/ know where Westport is if you surf :) )
 

August

Observer
firemansxterra said:
hey august have you checked out thenew.org ...it's a site dedicated to 2nd generation xterras, lots of good info...
I'm there too! Same username, just haven't posted my info on member's rides.
 

August

Observer
CoastalDefender said:
Free places to camp? Bro, if you ever come to Westport, WA, you have a free place to stay at mine. (and you /should/ know where Westport is if you surf :) )
I haven't surfed there before but I do know of Westport. I'm off to Tofino tomorrow morning. I'm probably going to go to Oregon again this Remembrance Day long weekend (November). So perhaps I'll get down to Westport next spring.
 

August

Observer
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Aftermarket hitch and 7-pin harness mounted in rear bumper

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Keypad in fuel door

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Garmin nuvi in Nissan mount

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Spot Satellite Messenger on Ram-Mount

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Scan Gauge II installed using Blend Mount below rear view mirror and Icom IC-2720H dual band (UHF/VHF) mobile radio remote display above rear view mirror

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Icom IC-2720H dual band (UHF/VHF) mobile radio in passenger side cargo pocket


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10" of 4 gauge welding cable to Blue Sea Systems maxi fuse block (PN5006) mounted to the top of an OEM fuse block then 15 or 16' of 4 gauge welding cable through driver side firewall to the cargo bay.

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4 gauge welding cable from driver side fire wall to Blue Sea Systems ST blade fuse block (PN5025 6 circuit with negative bus and cover) in cargo bay tray. Another 2' of 4 gauge welding cable from negative bus to chassis ground.

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Globalstar GSP1600 satellite telephone in GCK1400 car kit with external speaker (located below) and external microphone. GCK1400 module located in rear cargo tray.

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GCK1400 satellite antenna with cable routed through factory tailgate grommet.
 

August

Observer
My sleeping platform and storage project is 99% complete.

I built the platform around my Akro-Mils Attached Lid Containers (model 39-085 21-1/2" x 15" x 9" $19.40 at Fastenal).

The platform is 3/4" plywood pine and has an inside height of 10-3/4" to clear three of these containers (2 deep sideways and 1 lengthways).

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The runners are 2" x 12" spruce, spaced outside of the factory rails to permit securing the platform to these rails and so that the factory cargo tray can still be accessed. I may replace the runners as they are crowning quite noticeably.

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At the mid-section, a 2" x 4" stringer is tied into these runners for extra support.

Originally I tried using the seat bottoms in the upright position to support the forward platforms but this failed when I noticed that they sit at different heights. Instead, I used a 2" x 12" stringer resting on the backside of the seat backs.

The final design consideration was to keep the platform in the cargo area semi-permanent. The forward sections are removable and are split 60/40 to allow usage of either seat (60 sleep / 40 seat OR 60 seat / 40 sleep).

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Finally, I routered the edges, sanded and used Behr exterior semi-gloss paint. I only had a small can so I was only able to paint the essential/visible parts.

I ordered a custom 3" foam mattress, 44" wide and 65" long with a fold down the length of it so that one person can sleep with the 60 sleep / 40 seat arrangement.

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Since the mattress and platform is only 65" long, and I am 69" long - I remove the headrest and place my pillow on top.

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Box 1 is for tools and vehicle supplies, box 2 is for camping gear and box 3 is for recovery equipment.

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